Panaji: Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat justified the defections by invoking his divine interaction with "God". He said along with him all the turncoats from Congress had taken permission from God before joining the BJP.
The Congress veteran said he is a believer and that he had taken an oath not to dump the Congress after elections, when asked about breaching the oath. "I went to the temple again and asked God what to do. God told me do whatever is best for me. Therefore, I am here," he maintained.
The Congress legislators had taken an oath in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, an optics arranged ahead of the elections to convince voters and their party top brass that that they would not switch after elections. Seven months later, they had switched sides.
Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo, his wife Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes are those who joined the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Assembly Complex.
Also read: Goa Congress splits, 10 out of 15 MLAs merge with BJP
Addressing a press conference with state BJP chief Sadanant Shet Tanavade, Sawant said that BJP's strength in the 40-member Assembly has gone up to 28 with the eight new entrants. The chief minister said eight of the 11 MLAs of Congress, including former chief minister Digambar Kamat, have joined the BJP.
"With today's development, the BJP now enjoys the support of 33 MLAs (including two of the Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party and three Independents). These Congress MLAs have joined the BJP unconditionally," Sawant said.
Taking a dig, Sawant said 'the Congress chhodo yatra' has begun from Goa and exuded confidence that the BJP will win another Lok Sabha seat in Goa in the next elections. Of the two Lok Sabha seats in the coastal state, the BJP and the Congress represent one each. "In the 2024 polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be re-elected with the support of more than 400 MPs," he added. (with Agency inputs)
